Thrashers hire McCrimmon

McCrimmon, 44, played in the NHL for 18 seasons for six teams, helping the Calgary Flames win the 1989 Stanley Cup, and he finished his career with a rating of plus-444. He was an assistant for 21/2 seasons with the Flames before he was fired along with head coach Greg Gilbert last December.

He joins Steve Weeks on head coach Bob Hartley's staff.

''He understands what it takes to succeed in the NHL and has developed into an exceptional coach,'' Hartley said of McCrimmon.

In two seasons as head coach of the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League, McCrimmon went 50-79-15. Current Atlanta defensman Garnet Exelby played for McCrimmon in Saskatoon.